Description:
Vernal Pools for Educators is a workshop for teachers who wish to get involved in vernal pool studies and projects as a science, interdisciplinary or community service activity. The workshop is aimed at upper elementary, middle, and high school science educators teaching biological, life science or environmental topics.
Vernal pools are temporary wetlands which are wet in the spring and often dry by summer. Because of their small size and temporary nature, their physical conditions select for a biologically diverse community which includes many rare wildlife species in Massachusetts. The exploration and study of a vernal pool will reveal the many organisms and their fascinating adaptations which make the classroom study of vernal pools a popular environmental topic.
Join us for a full day of vernal pool exploration and discovery. Learn about the ecology of vernal pools and how to identify the amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates you will find in them. Discover a variety of interdisciplinary activities which tie vernal pool studies to the various State Frameworks. Learn the locations of potential vernal pools in your community and how you and your class can document them for certification through the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs is providing these free workshops to encourage the study of biodiversity in Massachusetts. Attendees will receive a comprehensive resource kit for classroom use. Participation is limited to teachers in public and private schools in Massachusetts. Selection will be competitive to best accomodate teachers from throughout the Commonwealth. For further information call (508.792.7270 x200) or email Jessica Patalano.

Instructors:
Leo Kenney, Vernal Pool Association
Mike Harney, Vernal Pool Association
Matt Burne, Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program

Professional Development Points:
The Division of Fisheries & Wildlife and the Vernal Pool Association are state-approved providers of teacher recertification training. The workshop will provide 6 hours of training which can be combined with a project produced by the teacher to acquire 10 PDPs. Suggested projects might include:

certification of a vernal pool,
developing and submitting grade appropriate lesson plans for vp activities,
working with the local conservation commission to map vernal pools in town,
participating in the Vernal Pool Poster Outreach Project with the Vernal Pool Association,
producing a vernal pool workshop in your community or school.